Countdown: 3, 2, 1 ... It's Summer Vacation!!!

It's here.

My caboose kiddo's summer vacation starts in three hours.

Am I ready?

I don't think so.

I still haven't accomplished everything I planned on accomplishing when school started last fall.

And in 180 minutes, Christa will walk in, dump her back pack on the bench in the front hall, and ask, "What are we are going to do now?"

Summer vacation will officially begin.

Christa will say those eight words over and over and over and over again until she starts third grade in August.

And I know I can't just sit her down in front of the TV for the next 10 weeks.

Thank God for the neighborhood kiddos. There will be hours spent riding bikes and chasing butterflies and slurping popscicles with her buddies. They'll have impromptu picnics and run back and forth to each others' houses and ask me to take them to the park.

Christa's signed up for an art camp and a week of Vacation Bible School and swim lessons and the library's summer reading program.

All good fun.

But keeping her happy and busy while getting my goals accomplished--ah, there's the challenge.

I'm open to suggestions ... and play dates.

Keeping the Caboose Kiddo Busy

Call me crazy.
In an act of desperation, I started a blog for my caboose kiddo.
My thought was, "Help! What else can I do with her to keep her busy this summer?"
Start a blog.
I suggested the idea to Christa--and she was all for it.
And you know what? My act of desperation is turning out to be a lot of fun for both of us.
At first, I was Christa's faithful scribe, typing her dictated statements for each post, telling about her day. Then I remembered that she's learned some basic keyboarding already. So, I let her type some. Then I type some. We upload a photo.
And then she sits back and waits for her comments.
That is her favorite part of blogging: the comments from her grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. On the day she got 7 comments, Christa threw back her head and proclaimed, "I love my life!"
I'm ve-ery careful with Christa's blog. I didn't post any personal information about Christa when I set up her blog. And I read all her comments. I send out an e-mail to family, letting them know when Christa's posted a new entry. It's a great way to keep in touch with all her long-distance relatives. And she's creating a fun summer journal too.
Sometimes acts of desperation can create something unexpected and worthwhile.
Who'd have thought it?

Summer Vacation's Coming: What's a Mommy-Come-Lately To Do?

Two and a half days and counting.
And I am counting down the days until Christa starts summer vacation.
And while I'm counting, I'm wondering: How am I'm going to keep my oh-so-active caboose kiddo entertained this summer?
Suggestions, anyone?
Christa is lamenting the end of school too. She will miss her friends. Her teachers. All the activities. She knows that, come next Monday, it will be me and her.
I best have a game plan for the summer.
And I do.
Sort of.
Christa requested swim lessons. Okay, she's registered for those.
She's also registered for Vacation Bible School, which is always a lot of fun.
I'll probably enroll her in a day camp for a week. I've already talked to another mom whose daughter is in Christa's class. It'll be more fun if the two girls can go together.
Let's see. That takes care of 4 weeks of summer vacation.
I'm not nearly as prepared as I need to be.
Of course, I want Christa to have some fun with the neighbor kids. They can ride bikes. We can walk to the park. Bake cookies. Build forts. That sort of thing.
There's always the summer reading program at the library. And craft classes at the local craft stores.
One of my main goals this summer is to avoid giving up and giving in and turning on the TV for too many hours.
I'd love to think Christa will sleep in this summer.
Ha. In my dreams.
So, if any of you moms out there--older moms, younger moms--age doesn't matter--have any suggestions for keeping a 7-year-old occupied during summer vacation--I'm listening!!